Cricket: Honley in late charge

Jul 25 2009 by David Lockwood, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THEY might have lost four out of their first five League games this season, but all of a sudden the threat of Honley is now starting to looming large!

The record-breaking four-time League champions are not going to let go of their title lightly, and with the exception of Golcar – where they were once again undone by the brilliance of Steve Whitwam – Honley have taken 10 wins from their last 11 outings, seven of which have brought them maximum six-point returns.

Only last week they put a double dent in Elland’s pursuit of honours in the space of 48 hours, beating them relatively easily in the League, before edging to a two-wicket win with two balls to spare in the Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions’ Trophy, despite the heroics of Danny Rhodes.

The young quick bowler bagged a hat trick as part of an excellent five-wicket haul in a match reduced to an 18-overs-a-side thrash.

Elland made 136-6 batting first, with Craig Fletcher top-scoring with an unbeaten 40, James Thornton (38) and Greg Buckley (28) and Harlon Haye taking three wickets.

Honley’s reply centred on virtually one man, Matthew Wood, who hammered 66 off 44 deliveries with 10 fours before being bowled by Thornton, while Chris Woodhead was the only other batsmen in double figures with a crucial 18, before skipper Archie Moore and Ritchie Howarth saw them through to the semi-final.

And there they will now likely face York away at Clifton Park (assuming the Yorkshire League champions beat Girlington as expected), the team they beat so convincingly to lift the Black Sheep Trophy 12 months ago.

“It should be a cracking match, and they will be desperate to put one over on us after last year,” admitted the Honley captain.

“Even though we have won our own League four times in succession, I think York came here last season and underestimated us. I don’t think there is a danger of that this time. Plus, of course, we are playing on their ground this time.

“York are again chasing the Yorkshire League title (they are currently second) are through to the semi-finals of the Yorkshire League Cup and the quarter-finals of the National Cup, so they are obviously going very well again, and will be tough to beat on their own ground. But then those are the sorts of games that you play for.”

Having been knocked out of the Sykes Cup in the second round at Golcar (that man Whitwam again) and 15 points behind League leaders Scholes, the Black Sheep may be Honley’s only hope of silverware this summer – but only a fool would rule them out!